IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jagris/v15y2025i10p1030-d1652624.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Unveiling the Transformative Effects of Forest Restoration on the Soil Chemistry and Biology of Sandy Soils in Southern Nyírség, Hungary

Author

Listed:
  • István Attila Kocsis

    (Institute of Agricultural Chemistry and Soil Science, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences and Environmental Management, University of Debrecen, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary
    Nyírerdő Nyírségi Erdészeti Zrt, H-4400 Nyíregyháza, Hungary
    Kálmán Kerpely Doctoral School, University of Debrecen, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary)

  • Magdolna Tállai

    (Institute of Agricultural Chemistry and Soil Science, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences and Environmental Management, University of Debrecen, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary)

  • Ágnes Zsuposné Oláh

    (Institute of Agricultural Chemistry and Soil Science, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences and Environmental Management, University of Debrecen, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary)

  • Zoltán László

    (Institute of Agricultural Chemistry and Soil Science, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences and Environmental Management, University of Debrecen, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary
    Kálmán Kerpely Doctoral School, University of Debrecen, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary)

  • Béla Mokos

    (Institute of Agricultural Chemistry and Soil Science, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences and Environmental Management, University of Debrecen, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary
    Kálmán Kerpely Doctoral School, University of Debrecen, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary)

  • Ida Kincses

    (Institute of Agricultural Chemistry and Soil Science, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences and Environmental Management, University of Debrecen, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary)

  • Evelin Kármen Juhász

    (Institute of Agricultural Chemistry and Soil Science, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences and Environmental Management, University of Debrecen, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary)

  • Daniel A. Lowy

    (Department of Economics, Finance and Accounting, Keleti Károly Faculty for Business and Management, Óbuda University, H-1084 Budapest, Hungary)

  • Zsolt Sándor

    (Institute of Agricultural Chemistry and Soil Science, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences and Environmental Management, University of Debrecen, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary)

Abstract

Protecting humankind’s natural resources and soils, including forestry, represents a top priority in agriculture. Addressing climate change should prioritize preserving and enhancing organic carbon, specifically humus, in soils. In this paper, we examine the impact of soil preparation on soil humus and microbial life during the reforestation of Southern Nyírség, Hungary. We determined soil plasticity, pH in distilled water solution, the quantity and quality of humus content, the total number of bacteria and microbial fungi, as well as CO 2 production. In addition to stump removal and plowing, the wealthiest layer of organic matter was detached from the surface. A significant decrease in humus content (HU%) was observed at the five experimental sites (loss of 19.20–40.14 HU% at 0–30 cm depth). Soil organic matter is concentrated in the stump depositions. According to the results, the quantity of humus content is strongly correlated with the measured parameters of soil life, specifically with the number of microbial fungi (r = 0.806 **) and the total number of bacteria (r = 0.648 **). Another correlation (r = 0.607 **) was assessed between the humus content and CO 2 production. This study helps to understand the importance of the no-tillage methods used in reforestation.

Suggested Citation

  • István Attila Kocsis & Magdolna Tállai & Ágnes Zsuposné Oláh & Zoltán László & Béla Mokos & Ida Kincses & Evelin Kármen Juhász & Daniel A. Lowy & Zsolt Sándor, 2025. "Unveiling the Transformative Effects of Forest Restoration on the Soil Chemistry and Biology of Sandy Soils in Southern Nyírség, Hungary," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-18, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:15:y:2025:i:10:p:1030-:d:1652624
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/15/10/1030/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/15/10/1030/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:15:y:2025:i:10:p:1030-:d:1652624. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.